Fourth Shanghai Technology Fair opens

(AGI) Shanghai, April 21 - The fourth International Technology Fair in Shanghai has opened, with Italy as guest of honour. At the opening, Italian Education Minister Stefania Giannini emphasised the good relations between Italy and China in the field of technological development. She said that many opportunities were created for China and Italy by the launch of the New Silk Road initiative in 2013. "The Silk Road has generated a thriving trade for centuries," Minister Giannini said. "Nowadays, the 'one belt one road' approach could create a new form of cooperation, exchanging not only goods, but also ideas, science and research." Ms Giannini added that more than 600 Italian companies are present in the Shanghai area, which represent a "sign of renewed Italian commitment that aims to materialise and take the form of a real contribution to the legitimate ambition of the city of Shanghai to be a centre of technological development". This is the right place and the right time to talk about science and technology," said the minister, back in Shanghai after a mission last November. "It is a great pleasure and a great honour to be back after five months to inaugurate the most important moment of this international technology fair, and to have the honour of representing the host country along with an important delegation" of sixty Italian companies , universities, consortia and research institutes. "The presence of more than 600 Italian companies in the Shanghai area alone clearly shows how important this type of collaboration is for us." The opening of the fair was also attended by Italy's Secretary for the Environment, Barbara Degani, who signed an agreement with the Tong Ji University in Shanghai on cooperation between Chinese and Italian universities. Italy has had relations with the Tong Ji University for more than 10 years and supports the higher education activities of Chinese university officials. "The fact that our universities, which have been active in China for over 10 years, are here today is significant," Ms Degani told AGI. "Not only because we are a guest of honour this year, but also because it can be useful for future developments, especially in the relations between universities of the two countries and with regard to technological innovation. We hope that this will lead to concrete activities and technological transformation that will enable companies to improve the quality of life and to change course towards a different kind of development." Mayor of Shanghai, Yang Xiong, was also present and took the opportunity to underline the commitment of the municipality to make the fair "the most important in the world in the technology sector." China's Science and Development Minister Wan Gang added that technological development is "the driving force behind development in all countries," including China, "which is becoming increasingly important in global innovation." (AGI). .